BC - Maybe this cave has served its purpose
Robert Sam, left, said at yesterday’s news conference with Len Barrie.
Louise Dickson; With files from Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Conflict over a Skirt Mountain cave sacred to local First Nations has the potential to divide the Songhees, Chief Robert Sam said yesterday.
“The dissension comes from the group who have been trying to occupy the mountain, the young people. I think they’re a minority, ” said the chief. “We’ve been trying to tell them that maybe this cave has served its purpose and maybe it’s time to move on.”
The cave has been at the centre of a dispute that flared last month when First Nations rallied at Bear Mountain Resort property to protest damage to the cave and the draining of a subterranean lake. The protest ended when both sides declared a two-week truce to work out their differences.
The cave is not really an issue for the chief and council, Sam told a press conference yesterday at the resort to announce an agreement in principle among the province, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, Bear Mountain Development and the City of Langford.
“It’s our agreement that once the healing ceremony was done, the development could proceed,” said Sam.
Aboriginal Relations Minister Mike de Jong said as in any community there would be differences of opinion, “but the fact that the parties came together and, I believe, emphasized to one another a willingness to listen to different views, and try to accommodate those views, is a very hopeful sign.”
The Tsartlip are not named in the agreement. RCMP Sgt. John Brewer, a mediator, said Tsartlip Chief Chris Tom will bringing the message from the Dec. 10 healing ceremony to his people. The Tsartlip will also discuss the AIP tonight at their longhouse.
Although a destination casino is not mentioned in the AIP, Langford Mayor Stew Young said the idea is still being considered as a way to include local First Nations “in the revenue stream.” View Royal Mayor Graham Hill will lead the casino talks, he said.
The agreement outlines ways to address archeological interests at the resort and how community development opportunities can proceed. Highlights include the protection and preservation of First Nations cultural history. The parties will work together to develop interpretive trails and an interpretive site.
The province will give $90,000 to First Nations to help them participate in a working group. The group will meet each month to discuss archeological and cultural resources.
It will also develop protocols for sites, discovered during development, that are culturally and spiritually important to First Nations.
The Guardian Rocks, put down as markers by ancestors, will be protected. The rocks are on Provincial Capital Commission land, which will be transferred to Langford and the First Nations.
Sam was pleased the developer has offered to scout for additional sites that need to be protected to prevent future misunderstandings.
The agreement also outlines economic opportunities for the Songhees to come from a proposed interchange leading from the Trans-Canada to the resort. Langford will help the Songhees by providing road and infrastructure. The parties also agreed to enter into cost-sharing negotiations for construction at the proposed interchange.
Langford will receive $50,000 from the Ministry of Community Services to develop a best-practices approach to archeological assessments which can be shared with other local governments in B.C.
For Bear Mountain Resort CEO Len Barrie, the agreement means his employees can get back to work. “About 1,200 people depend on paycheques up here,” he said.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006
© 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.
